‘Virus Alert’ Hits Bollywood After Dabangg Director Abhinav Kashyap’s ‘Gunda’ Remark On Salman Khan
Bollywood is in news again and this time, a verbal war between filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap and star Salman Khan has raised the temperature of the tinsel town very high. This is Salman Khan bashing at its best, and the director of 2010’s Dabangg has just delighted in a recent viral moment with his exaggerated claim that Salman Khan is a “gunda” that has ruined careers in the industry. The unvarnished comment has set off an uproar in one of Bollywood’s most notorious feuds, pinpointing deeper arguments about power, influence, and stardom.
The Comment That Rattled the Industry
- Abhinav spoke about his soured relationship with Salman Khan on an industry chat show.
- He called the actor an uninterested craftsman and said he was really just in it for the celebrity and money.
- His choice of words — calling Salman “a gunda” and “badtameez” (ill-mannered) — prompted an immediate social media storm.
Kashyap alleged that Salman has not been interested in acting for the past 25 years and only shows up on set as a favour, not because of a love for cinema. What made the statement sting was that it questioned not only the star’s character but also his professional commitment.
The Crosshairs on the Khan Family
- Abhinav’s criticism extended to the entire Khan family.
- He claimed they hold “a stranglehold” over the business and rush to “destroy” anyone who refuses to bend to their will.
“This privilege that comes to stars when packs close ranks and start choosing who gets to be in these films, is so flawed,” Kashyap said. “It is like you must have gone through a casting couch. Their power and influence is actually thin.”
This was not the first time Abhinav voiced such concerns. He has accused Salman, Arbaaz, and Sohail of meddling in his projects and sidelining him after he refused to direct Dabangg 2. To him, his career slowdown was anything but accidental.
Warnings from a Brother
- Abhinav revealed that his elder brother, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, had advised him against working with Salman Khan.
- Anurag had already worked with the superstar and warned that collaborating would not be easy.
The remark adds a family dimension to the uproar, linking past grievances with present acrimony. Abhinav also compared his story with other industry clashes, pointing to Anurag’s creative disagreements with producers and actors. For Abhinav, his experience with Dabangg only validated those warnings.
Salman’s Calm but Cutting Response
Though Abhinav’s allegations made headlines, Salman Khan responded subtly. In a recent television interview, he scoffed at the idea that he had the power to ruin anyone’s career:
“If I had the power to destroy someone’s career, I’d probably end up sabotaging my own along the way.”
He also questioned the basis of Abhinav’s claim: “Which career was ruined?”
This remark was both dismissive and discrediting. For fans, it strengthened Salman’s image as someone immune to negativity. For critics, it raised deeper questions about power structures in Bollywood.
A Feud Years in the Making
The current uproar is part of a saga that began 15 years ago:
- When Dabangg released in 2010, it established Salman as a mass hero and introduced Abhinav Kashyap as a director to watch.
- Behind the scenes, tensions brewed over creative control, credit, and future collaborations.
- Abhinav’s refusal to direct the sequel further deepened the rift.
- During the nepotism debates of 2020, Abhinav again accused the Khans of plotting against him.
At the time, family members denied the allegations, with some even threatening legal action. The latest “gunda” comment has only reopened old wounds, pushing reconciliation further away.
Industry and Public Reactions
- Within Bollywood: Reactions remain divided. Some insiders admit that powerful families do influence opportunities, while others believe Abhinav is leveraging Salman’s name for attention.
- Among fans: Social media has split into two camps:
- Supporters of Salman, who see him as a self-made superstar with decades of success.
- Supporters of Abhinav, who argue that whistleblowers often face backlash in Bollywood.
Memes, debates, and fiery exchanges have kept the feud alive online, ensuring it dominates entertainment headlines. Many observers feel the controversy reflects broader issues like nepotism and industry cliques rather than just a personal spat.
The Dabangg Legacy
Despite the mudslinging, Dabangg remains a landmark in Hindi cinema:
- The film’s blockbuster success spawned a franchise and made Chulbul Pandey a household name.
- It redefined Salman’s “Bhai” persona, which continues to this day.
For Abhinav, however, the film has been both a blessing and a curse. It brought him instant fame, but the rift with Salman cast a long shadow over his career. None of his later films matched Dabangg’s success, leaving many to wonder what might have been.
What Lies Ahead
- For Abhinav: He has shown he is unafraid of challenging powerful figures, but whether this feud will rejuvenate his career remains uncertain.
- For Salman: His dominance at the box office and on television appears unaffected, with a loyal fan base standing by him.
Some believe Abhinav’s words may reignite conversations about reform, transparency, and fair play in Bollywood. Others dismiss it as another episode in the endless cycle of celebrity spats.
A Never-Ending Drama?
Bollywood thrives on drama both on and off screen, and the feud between Abhinav Kashyap and Salman Khan seems unlikely to end soon. For audiences, it offers a rare glimpse behind the glitter, into the egos, rivalries, and struggles that shape the world’s most prolific film industry.
Whether this controversy sparks real change or simply adds another chapter to Bollywood’s rumour mill remains to be seen. What is certain is that Abhinav’s fiery words have reignited debate about the fierce and fleeting equations of power in the Hindi film world.
